For the first time in almost 30 years, Heaven Hill Distillery is making whiskey in Bardstown, Kentucky again. The company filled the first barrel at its new $200 million Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in “the bourbon capital of the world” this week. A massive fire destroyed the original Heaven Hill facility in 1996.
Since the fire, Heaven Hill has been distilling products like Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, and Elijah Craig at its Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. Production will continue in Louisville.
The Heaven Hill Springs distillery will have a capacity of 150,000 barrels a year, once it’s complete in September. It can grow to a capacity of 450,000 barrels annually. See more in the chart below.
Heaven Hill says it is the largest independent producer of bourbon in the world. It will celebrate its 90th anniversary in December.
“Filling this first barrel is both a homecoming and a major step into the future of Heaven Hill. The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery reflects our deep roots in Bardstown, our long-term commitment to American Whiskey, and our investment in building for the next 90 years with care, intention and pride.”
ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY:
Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 2 million barrels aging in nearly 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2024 and 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year and 2023 World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon from the Icons of Whisky, as well as the 2022 Large Spirits Producer of the Year from the Ascot Awards. Heaven Hill Distillery held the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.
